Closure cap for collapsible containers



May 1, 1956 s. M. ALBERDI, JR 2,743,852

CLOSURE CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed May 25. 1951 IINVENTOR 4 y )3 6 60M 0&4, M+mw ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,743,852 I I CLOSUYRE CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLEI CONTAINERS Santiago M. Alberdi, Jr.,'Montes de )ca Argentina Application May 25, 1951, Serial No. 228,220 earns; cl. 222 494 The present invention relates to closure caps for collapsible containers and more particularly to closure caps for containers. utilized for containing .extrudible pasty materials such for example as tooth paste, ointments, beautyv creams and sandwich spreads.

i-Ieretofore such containers which comprise an extrusion noz zl e, have been provided with a screw-on closure-cap havinganimperforate top whereby said cap has hadto be removed every time it was desired to squeeze some of the contents out of the container- I Besides being troublesome, this circumstance frequently led to the losing of the closure cap so that in many cases the container with its contents had to be discarded, or at best there existedthe danger 0t anundesired extrusion taking place by inadvertent comp'r'essionof'the unclosed container.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a closure cap for collapsiblecontainersof the kind described which cap may be kept permanently on the container nozzle and yet permit immediate extrusion of the contents. 1 Y 1 Another object is to provide a removable closure cap for collapsible containers, comprising a..diaph ragm type valve arrangement of a novel constructionl .These and other objects and'advantagesof the pr eseiit invention will become more readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: I I I Fig. 1 is atop plan view of a closure cap according'to the presentinvention. 1

Fig. 2 is a section along the'line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing 'a diaphragm type valve as used in the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a diametral section of a modified form of my novel closure cap. I I I I I Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a sealing spider for use in embodiments of the type shown in Fig; 4. I

T Fig; 6 is a perspective'view of a collapsible container head fitted withmy novel closure cap during'usel-and Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the cap after use. Referring first to Figs. 1 through 3,'I have there illustrated a valved closure cap according to the present invention comprising a hollow body 6 including askirt portion 7 which is shown as internally screw threaded at 8 to enablethe closure cap to be screwed on tovthe nozzles of conventional collapsible containers. Said skirt portion ,is open at one end to receive such nozzle and at the other end has an inwardly directed flange 9ldefining a relatively large circular mouth. 10 which is normally substantially closed by adiaphragm 11. I I I I I I As best seen in Fig. 3 said diaphragm consists of a circular piece of thin resilient sheet material centrally pierced to provide an orifice 12 of very small diametenjs ay of the order of 1.0 or 0.5 mm.--or less. The material of the diaphragm is also cut to define aplurality of slits, 'preferably three slits 13 radiating from the orifice 12 in mutually equiangular relationship and extending to points spaced I 2,743,852 i atented May 1,1956

. 2 inwardly of the edge 14 of diaphragm thereby defining an annular imperforate marginal portion 15 and three cenof assembly is particularly suitable when the body 6 ofv the closure cap is made of molded material as then the diaphragm can be treated as an insert.

While various materials such as stiff sheet rubber and plastic base sheet materials having a .sufiicient degree of elasticity, may be used, I have found that very satisfactory results as to both the operation and the durability. of the diaphragm can be obtained by using the cellulosic back-v ing material now employed for photographic and, more particularly, radiographic films. Such backing material has a convenient thickness, is sufficiently springy and is readily worked. It is however to be understood that I do not intend to restrict the invention to the use of any particular material since any material which on being given the form shown in Fig. 3, has sufi'icient flexibility and springiness to give the tongues 16 adequate opening and tion.

container to which the closure cap is to be applied.

It is of course desirable that the. tongues should not be so stiff as to require an abnormal eifort on the partof the: user, to extrude the contents of the collapsible container, yet the tongues shouldhave suflicient restoring powers to regain substantially their coplanar relationship when the extruding pressure on the contents of the container has ceased.

In order to assist the opening and closing action of the tongues 16, the slits13 are preferably of some positive though very small width, as for example, they may be a fraction of a millimeter wide.

Hence in the embodiment hereinabove described, on the application of extruding pressure to the container 17 (Figs. 6 and 7) a three armed column of pasty content 18 having arms or webs 19 radiating from a central core 20'will issue from the diaphragm 11, the tongues 16 of which will be deflected outwardly as shown in .Fig. 6 whereby the sides of the arms or webs 19 will not be plane but somewhat thickened as will also the central portion or core 20 of column 18.

' When a sufficient length ofpasty contents has been exto their coplanar positions, their return to such position or. to a close approximation thereto, being materially assisted.

by the wiping action mentioned hereinabove. Thus,.after the container has been used it may just be laid aside and thediaphragm 11 will be sufiicient to retain the contents in the container'andhto protect all but a very small area indeed from the influence of the atmosphere.

When. it is desired that the area of the pasty materialexposed. after use,.that is to say the area represented by the material in thetcentral orifice 12 and the slits 13, shallv be reduced to. aiminimum, 'a sealingspider-.21 (see. .Figs. 4 and 5 may be provided closelyv behind the diaphragm. =11

Said spider comprises a central boss 22 of a size to block up the orifice 12, and three radial legs 23 each positioned 3 in alinement with one of the slits 13 and of a size to block said throughout their length. Said spider is mounted inside the hollow body 6 behind the diaphragm 11 and closely adjacent thereto, as indicated in Fig. 4. The

" Orifice 12 and the legs 23 maybe round with their ends mal'boss 22 may be long enough to project through the A the doflre cap has been applied, are exhausted, said cap may be'removed, washed or otherwise cleaned and applied to mother container. will-beboplanar and, particularly if the sealing spider is provided, will constitute a satisfactory closure so that a newyfiil container can be marketed directly when fitted WE: only a closure cap according to the present invention. it mired, of course, a wafer of sheet material may be aflxed to the dispensing end of the cap. For instance the wafer may be stuck to the flange 9.

Although I have described the present invention with partiwlar reference to certain preferred embodiments, ith *tobe understood that I do not desire to be limited What that I may make such changes and modificado? therein as lie wtihin the scope of the appended claims.

1. A closure cap for collapsible containers including an extemafly screw threaded nozzle, said closure cap coma hollow body including a skirt portion internally for screwing onto said nozzle and being open at oneend; the otherend of said hollow body defining a relativelylorge mouth, a diaphragm of resilient sheet material located ,inside said hollow body and extending over said said diaphragm being perforated to define a cenflll small orifice and a plurality of slits radiating m siid orifice in mutually substantially equi-angular relationship and extending to points spaced inwardly perimeter of said diaphragm to define an annular to marginal portion and a plurality of substantil ll; fl'ilingular outwardly defiectable tongues having directed towards said orifice, and fixing means securing said marginal portion in position in said hollow aisealing spider for said orifice and plurality of slits, g spider being located inside said hollow body i 'said diaphragm and having a central boss and a plurality of legs, said central boss being in alignment and into said orifice and said plurality of legs exinto said plurality of slits.

2. A'closure cap for collapsible containers including a nozzle, said closure cap comprising a hollow body including a flirt portion of a size to fit over said nozzle, and open at one end, the other end of said hollow body definin a relatively large mouth, a diaphragm of resilient sheet material located inside said hollow body and extending over said mouth, said diaphragm being perforated to define a central relatively small orifice and a plurality of slits from said orifice in mutually substantially relationship and extending to points spaced When so applied, the tongues 16 plurality of legs, said central boss being in alignment and extending into saidorifice and said plurality of legs extending into said plurality of slits, said legs having free ends embedded in said skirt portion.

3. A closure cap for collapsible containers including a nozzle, said closure cap comprising a hollow body includ ing a skirt portion of a size to fit over said nozzle and being open at one end, the other end of said skirt portion defining a relatively large mouth, a diaphragm of resilient sheet material located inside said hollow body and extending over said month, said diaphragm being perforated to define a central relatively narrow orifice and a plurality of relatively narrow slits radiating from said orifice and extending each to a point spaced inwardly of the perimeter of said diaphragm to define an imperforate marginal portion and a plurality of outwardly defiectable triangular tongues having apices directed towards said orifice, a sealing spider permanently located inside said hollow body adjacent said diaphragm and on the side thereof remote from said mouth, said spider comprising a central boss located in alignment with said orifice and a plurality of radial legs aligned with said slits.

4, A closure cap for collapsible containers including a nozzle, said closure cap comprising a hollow body including a skirt portion of a size to fit over said nozzle and being open at one end, the other end of skirt portion defining a relatively large mouth, a diaphragm of resilient sheet material located inside said hollow body and extending over said mouth, said diaphragm being perforated to define a central relatively narrow orifice and a plurality of relatively narrow slits radiating from said orifice and extending each to a point spaced inwardly of the perimeter of said diaphragm to define an imperforate marginal portion and a plurality of triangular tongues having apices directed towards said orifice, said marginal portion being embedded in the material of said hollow body, a sealing spider permanently located inside said hollow body adjacent said diaphragm and on the side thereof remote from said mouth, said spider comprising a central streamline boss located in alignment with said orifice and extending thereinto, and a plurality of radial streamline legs aligned with said slits having free ends embedded in the material of said hollow body and ex tending into said slits.

5. A closure cap for collapsible containers comprising a hollow body including a skirt portion open at one end, the other endof said hollow body defining a relatively large mouth, a diaphragm of resilient sheet material located inside said hollow body and extending over said mouth, said diaphragm being perforated to define a central relatively small orifice and a plurality of slits radiating from said orifice in mutually substantially equi-angu lar relationship and extending to points spaced inwardly of the perimeter of said diaphragm to define an annular imperforate marginal portion and a plurality of substantially triangular outwardly defiectable tongues having apices directed'towards said orifice, and fixing means securing said marginal portion in position in said hollow body, a sealing spider for said orifice and plurality of slits, said sealing spider being located inside said hollow body adjacent said diaphragm and having a central boss and a plurality of legs, said central boss being in alignment and extending into said orifice and said plurality of legs extending into said plurality of slits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,993 Loewy Nov. 23, 1926 1,925,926 Kunkel Sept. 5, 1933 2,103,111 Ekdahl Dec. 21, 1937 2,128,752 Lentine Aug. 30, 1938 2,441,649 Sprague May 18, 1948 

